‹ Mandements et circulaires de Mgr. Joseph Thomas Duhamel, 1er archevêque d'Ottawa [microforme] (volume 3)Chapitre 165 sur 205 · DT CE · texte numérisé non relu

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not be admitted to form part of the choir or be among the choristers. Whenever, then, it is desired to employ higher parts for Sopranos and contraltos, these parts must be taken by boys, according to the most ancient usage of the Church.

14. Finally, only those are to be admitted to be among the ehoristers in a ehureh who are men of known piety and probity of life; and these should by their modest and devout bearing during the htureieal fune tions show that they are worthy of the holy office they exercise. It will also be fitting that singers while singing in church wear the ecclesiastical habit and surplice, and that they be hidden behind gratings when the choir is excessively open to the publie gaze.

15. Although the musie proper to the Church is purelv voeal musie, musie with the accompaniment of the organ is also pertaitted. In some special cases, within due limits and within the proper regards, other instruments may be allowed, but never without the special license of the Ordinary, according to prescriptions of the Ceremoniale Episcoporuan.

16. As the singing should always have the principal place, the organ or instruments should merely sustain and never overwhelm it.

17, It is not permitted to have the singing preceded by long preludes or to interrupt it with intermezzo pieces.

18 The musie of the organ as an accompaniment to the singing in preludes, interludes, and the like, must be not only governed by the special nature of that instrument, but must partake of all the qualities proper to sacred music as above enumerated.

19. The employment. of the piano is forbidden in church, as is also that of noisy or frivolous instruments, such as drums, evinbals, bells and the like.

20. It is strictly forbidden to have bands play in churches ; and only in a special case and with the consent of the Ordinary will it be permissible to admita number of wind instruments, limited judicious, and pro-

ortioned to the size of the placee— provided the coni position and accompaniment to be executed be written in a grave and suitable style, and similar in all respects to that proper to the organ.

21. In processions outside the church the Ordinary may give permission fora band, provided no profane pieces are executed. It would be desirable in such cases for the band to contine itself to accompaying some hymn sung in Latin, or in the vernacular, by the singers and the pious associations which take part in the procession.

The Length of the Liturgical Chant.

22. It is not lawful to keep the priest at the altar waiting because of the singing or the musie for a length of time not allowed by the liturgy. According to the ecclesiastical rules the Sanctus of the Mass should be over before the elevation ; and therefore the priest must here have regard to the singers. The Gloria and Credo ought, according to the Gregorian tradition, to be comparativel short.

23. In generil it must be considered to be a very grave abuse when the liturgy in ecclesiastical functions is made to appear secondary to, and in a manner at the service of the music, for the music is merely a part of the liturgy aud its humble handmaid.

Principal Means,

24. For the exact execution of what has been herein laid down, the Bishops, if they have not already done so, are to institute in their dioceses a speeial Commission composed of persons really competent in saered music, and to this Commission let them entrust in the manner they find most suitable the task of watching over the music

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